CTP2

Center for thermal Pharmaceutical Processing (CTP2)

Mission

The Center for Thermal Pharmaceutical Processing (CTP2), a unit of the Department of Pharmaceutics, conducts interdisciplinary drug/polymer research that provides end-stage pharmaceutical products directed at therapeutic conditions, vaccines, antidotes and wound care. This unique Center leverages the existing expertise and resources at The University of Mississippi (UM). Utilizing cutting edge thermal processing, CTP2 collaborates with private industry, government and academia to develop new, improved and expanded drug delivery systems. Many drugs and biological products require special delivery systems. CTP2 provides problem-solving approaches for the development of cost-effective, patient friendly and efficacious delivery systems for existing active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as for new chemical entities. Utilizing solid solutions and dispersions and nanotechnology, CTP2 develops novel formulations to improve bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. UM’s patented ‘Hot-melt Extruded Laminated Platform’ (iHELP™) technology, for example, promises broad-based availability of essential medicines for rapid response to both civilian and military personnel. Additionally, CTP2 focuses on developing Process Analytical Tools (PAT) and other methodologies to incorporate Quality by Design (QbD) principles and therefore increase the end-product success rate.

Many drugs and biological products require special delivery systems. CTP2 provides problem-solving approaches for the development of cost-effective, patient friendly and efficacious delivery systems for existing active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as for new chemical entities. Utilizing solid solutions and dispersions and nanotechnology, CTP2 develops novel formulations to improve bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. UM’s patented ‘Hot-melt Extruded Laminated Platform’ (iHELP™) technology, for example, promises broad-based availability of essential medicines for rapid response to both civilian and military personnel. Additionally, CTP2 focuses on developing Process Analytical Tools (PAT) and other methodologies to incorporate Quality by Design (QbD) principles and therefore increase the end-product success rate.

Melt Extrusion

Hot-melt extrusion (HME) has been widely applied in the plastics industry since the 1930s. However, only within the last decade has this technology been applied to pharmaceutical and chemical systems. Two faculty members within UM’s Department of Pharmaceutics, Dr. Michael Repka and Dr. Soumyajit Majumdar, have demonstrated that melt extrusion is a viable method to prepare granules, sustained release tablets and novel delivery systems, such as extruded films. These scientists have over 20 years of experience with hot-melt techniques.

Many drug delivery systems are produced using organic solvents (e.g. fast-dissolving films, transdermal films, taste masking tablet and pellet coatings) and batch processing technologies. For these and other applications, HME offers many advantages over traditional processing techniques—(1) no solvents are utilized, thus the technique is more environmentally friendly, (2) it entails a potential continuous process, and (3) decreased production costs are probable.

CTP2 and LAP

The Center for Thermal Pharmaceutical Processing is closely interfaced with the Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutics to provide a unique, multidisciplinary approach for enhancing the development, characterization and production of pharmaceutical dosage forms. All faculty within the Department of Pharmaceutics work together to ensure rational and scientific design aimed at improving the processes that drive drug product quality.

For additional information please contact:

Michael A. Repka, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Chair, Department of Pharmaceutics
(662) 915-1155
marepka@olemiss.edu